Mar Mikhael
Beirut, Lebanon
The city's creative hotspot, a street of bars, restaurants, galleries and boutiques that anchors Beirut's nightlife, rebuilding with defiant energy after…
Places in Mar Mikhael
- Tawlet A farmers'-kitchen restaurant where a different village cook prepares a daily buffet of authentic regional Lebanese home cooking. The most soulful food in the city.
- Acoté A room giving traditional Lebanese flavours a modern, contemporary treatment. Inventive cooking rooted in tradition.
- Tavolina A beloved Italian room for fresh pasta and a warm crowd, a Mar Mikhael favourite. Reliable and charming.
- Kalei Coffee Co. A leading specialty-coffee roaster and café with a lovely garden, roasting Lebanese-imported beans. The heart of the city's coffee scene.
- Mar Mikhael bar strip The main street's dense run of bars, from laid-back to hip, is the engine of Beirut's legendary nightlife, defiantly rebuilt after the blast. The heart of the night.
- Bar 35 One of the city's top nightlife spots, with a lively ambiance and exquisite cocktails. Buzzing and beloved.
- Anise / natural-wine bars A growing run of wine bars showcases Lebanon's excellent wines from the Bekaa Valley and natural producers. A sophisticated Beirut drink.
- Capitole / rooftop bars Rooftop bars offer cocktails with sea and city views, reviving Beirut's glamorous side. Go for the sunset.
Practical notes for Beirut
- Best time to visit
- April to June and September to November for warm, comfortable weather and the sea still swimmable. Summer is hot and buzzing; winter is mild and wet. Check current travel advisories before planning.
- Getting around
- Shared taxis (service), private taxis and the Bolt app are the way around; agree fares. The city is walkable in patches (the Corniche, Gemmayzeh) but hilly and traffic-choked. A driver helps for the wineries and mountains beyond.
- Currency
- Lebanese Pound (ل.ل); USD widely used
- Language
- Arabic. French and English are widely spoken.
- Timezone
- EET (UTC+2, UTC+3 in summer)
- Current trends
- A resilient, creative dining and bar scene rebuilding in Mar Mikhael and Gemmayzeh after the 2020 blast; modern-Lebanese cooking reclaiming tradition; a strong natural-wine and Lebanese-wine culture; and rooftop bars reviving the city's famous nightlife.
Other neighborhoods in Beirut
- Gemmayzeh — A charming quarter of Ottoman staircases, French-mandate buildings, cafés and bars, adjoining Mar Mikhael. Atmospheric and lively.
- Hamra — The historic intellectual and commercial heart on the west side, of bookshops, cafés, universities and old cinemas. Beirut's bohemian, cosmopolitan side.
- Downtown & the Corniche — The rebuilt central district around the clock tower and Roman baths, and the seafront Corniche promenade where all Beirut walks. The city's civic and social spine.
- Achrafieh — An elegant hilltop district of old mansions, smart restaurants and the Sursock Museum. Beirut at its most gracious.
Read the full Beirut guide